What Actually Happens Before, During and After a Fence Installation in a Northern Beaches Suburb?

A fence installation looks, from the outside, like a job that starts at the post-hole and ends when the last paling is secured. In Balgowlah, that picture skips several steps that, when missed, create problems requiring considerably more time and money to fix than getting them right from the start would have.

The Neighbour Conversation That Has to Come First

According to the laws in New South Wales under the Dividing Fences Act 1991, adjoining landowners have equal responsibility to pay for a standard dividing fence. This is only true if the correct procedures have been followed prior to the start of the construction work. If the other side of the landowner does not agree voluntarily to pay, then a formal Fencing Notice should be sent.

In accordance with the Act, the essential components of a Fencing Notice include the boundary line or proposed fence line, the nature of the fencing to be done and its approximate cost. When both sides will undertake the physical labour rather than just the cost, then it should be stipulated in the notice how the labour will be divided between the parties. After the notice has been sent, the adjoining landowner will have a month’s time to react. In case no settlement has been made during this period, then either side may take the issue to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal or the Local Court for a fencing order.

In suburbs like Balgowlah, where neighbouring properties are close to each other with established neighbours in old properties, it is always best to talk before sending any formal notice.

The Sequence of an Actual Installation

Arranging a professional fence install Ballgowlah residents trust starts well before any post hits the ground. In the case of old Balgowlah properties, locating the boundary line will be the first step prior to the installation. Old survey marks are usually hidden due to years of landscaping in the area and a fence installation even slightly off the boundary will cause legal problems. If there is uncertainty regarding boundary pegs, then it might be a good idea to hire a registered surveyor in advance.

Once the boundary line is located, posts will be placed at intervals appropriate for fence design and soil type. In case the fence needs to go through slopes, then the depth of posts will change along the way to keep the height of rails relative to the slope the same. Rails are fixed between the posts, palings or panels are installed and the cutting of the slope on-site is a common practice for fencing contractors, especially for the Northern Beaches area. This is where inexperienced operators tend to cut corners.

Lastly, gates are installed. Gates require heavier posts and additional cross-bracing due to extra lateral stress caused by the hinge and regular movements.

What Planning Rules Apply Before Anyone Starts?

NSW regulations concerning fence construction for exempt development have height restrictions, which should be taken into consideration when checking the property in advance of a quote. Side and rear boundary fences up to 1.8 m in residential zones are exempt development, thus there is no need for a development application to erect them. Front boundary and road setback fences cannot exceed 1.2 metres. For properties which fall under bushfire-prone land overlay, which includes some Northern Beaches locations, it is necessary to construct the fence out of hardwood or non-combustible materials regardless of the height restrictions.

Homeowners can check their property’s bushfire-prone land status through the NSW Rural Fire Service before engaging any contractor. Most of the time there is a need for retaining walls at the foot of the fence. The separation of these projects usually causes higher expenses and lower structural quality of the whole fence.